The Golden Edge

5 - Grandfather Shock

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

 Standing before an army of knights, an older gentleman wearing robes similar to Ivy's would frown. Holding the same staff, he'd point it towards the Metallo soldiers before him. Seeming extremely angry and squinting his eyes, he'd begin to speak.

"Metallo Knights, you have your missions. Locate my son and his mistress, eliminate her if need be! He really thinks he can escape his destiny and commit treason, I don't think so! Praise Crimson!" He'd tap the staff onto the ground. "What are you waiting for, get going!"

Nodding their heads, the knights would all march on out of the palace's atrium. As the last soldier left, a young woman would enter the room. With dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, she would peer toward the older man.

As the gentleman spotted the lass, he'd suddenly stumble. Close to falling to the floor, the woman would quickly appear at his side. Helping him stand straight, she'd shake her head.

"Father, you need to rest... Samuel is gone, just let him live in peace..." She'd sigh.

Pushing his daughter away, the man would growl.

"No, Rosie! He must come back and take on his duty. He is destined to become The Golden Edge, and as the oldest child, he must. You and Jeremy are not the oldest thus due to the rules inducted by Crimson, the twisted one herself, Samuel will take the staff!" He would shake his head. "And in front of the workers, you refer to me as that. The Golden Edge!"

"Yes, Golden Edge!" She nodded before turning around. "Just please be careful, you know you're not well..."

Quickly two knights came charging in, holding a man and dragging him inside. With stubble on his face and dirty brown hair, he was quickly thrown to the ground. On his knees in front of the older Golden Edge, the prisoner would slowly peer up at him.

"Paul..." He softly spoke.

"Demetrius Chalant, at last..." The leader spoke, aiming the staff toward him. "Where is she, where's your daughter and my son?"

Tilting his head, the prisoner began to chuckle.

"Why would I ever tell you? You're waging war against my tribe, my daughter's tribe. What did The Ingoshians ever do to you?"

The old Golden Edge would growl, still aiming his staff at Demetrius.

"Your filthy genes are going to be a part of the Metallo royal family. That's something I can't allow. It could bring tribes together, Crimson was against this!" He shook his head, bashing his staff around the head of the prisoner.

Taking a step backwards, he would peer over to a table with a book laying a top of it. Waving the staff around in the air, he would quickly then aim it towards the book. A translucent purple light would leave the red sphere of the staff before suddenly extending over to the hardback. Covering the book, it would quickly levitate into the air. Using the telekinesis ability of the royal weapon he held, The Golden Edge brought the book towards him. Grabbing it with his free hand, a broken heart would quickly be seen on the front.

"And if chaos comes from this, then maybe she'll grant us with her presence!" He would smirk.

---

Walking down the corridors of the palace, Ivy would make her way to the maid's quarters. Entering through the door, she'd head towards Nat's bedroom. She was one of The Golden Edge's only friends in Metalloic, making the leader feel somewhat lost without her.

Entering the bedroom, Ivy would gaze around. The room was extremely neat, her bed was made and everything had a spot. Strolling throughout the room, the Priestess would graze her hand along a shelf. Taking a look at her fingers, not a single speck of dust would be seen. Smiling slightly, Ivy would arrive at a desk.

With her staff in one hand, the woman would bend over to study the items atop. A diary, some pens and a photo in a frame sat on the worktop. Looking closer at the photo, Ivy would smile. On it was a younger Nat standing next to an older gentleman. Wearing similar robes as herself and even holding the staff, Ivy knew it was her grandfather. Suddenly, The Golden Edge noticed the photo was bent in the top right-hand corner. Confused as to why, she'd decide to pick it up.

Opening the frame and pulling the photo out, Ivy would turn it over. Studying the back, she'd spot some text. Quickly, she read it aloud.

"The first day of the war, and my first day as head maid."

Tilting her head confused, she would place the photo back. Standing away from the desk, Ivy would scratch her head. 

"War?" She spoke to herself. "What war?"

The Golden Edge still didn't know much about the history of Metalloic, being new to the country still. She only moved here due to being the last in line for the title of The Golden Edge. She did miss her life in America, but this was her life now. A leader of a tribe. 

Quickly an idea popped into the Priestess' mind. Spinning around, she'd sprint out of the maid's quarters. Running through the palace, she'd quickly arrive at her study. Pushing her way into the room, she'd peer towards her many bookcases.

"There has to be something here about a war!" She nodded with a determined look.

Placing her staff onto its stand, she'd begin to look through the many books. Scanning past the different titles, her aim was for anything war-related. After a while of searching, her eyes would quickly land on an antique chest. Strolling over to it, Ivy would kneel down before opening it,

Inside was paperwork, a lot of it. All filed into different cases, they'd have a label stuck on the front to say what they were. Ivy would quickly begin to look through, noting off each she read.

"Health reports, P. I collection, Crimson... What the hell are these?" She'd speak before spotting something. "War records... That must be it!"

Grabbing the case, The Golden Edge would quickly pull it open. Grabbing the papers, she'd instantly begin to read through them. What she would begin to learn, is something that shocked her to the core. When she was brought up, her parents told her all the stories of Metalloic and of the tribes they came from. But only the good stories, like how they helped their citizens with refined metals. How they had amazing weapons and royalty, and that she was royalty too.

Reading through the documents, Ivy would gasp. Metallo waged a war against The Ingoshian Tribe in 1997. Hoping to eradicate its people and take their land, the reason it started would make The Golden Edge gag. Attached to the documents was a speech that her grandfather had given. Stupidly, she decided to read it.

"The Metallo Army, I wish you luck as you charge in on the dogs that are The Ingoshian People. Their own filthy mutt has brainwashed my boy. So much so that he's impregnated her. If they think they can run, with that abomination with them... Then we shall destroy the one thing here they care about... Her people...." Ivy would shake her head. "What the actual fuck..."

Dropping the papers, the leader would stumble backwards. With a horrified look on her face, her mind began to flood with negative thoughts. Her grandfather hated her, hated her parents. He's evil. She couldn't handle it, all these thoughts, even starting to think of her being crowned was a bad idea. As she tried to organise the thoughts in her head, something would quickly disturb her.

In came Head Knight Ren, acting as charming as ever. Marching straight towards the leader, he'd nod at her.

"Ma'am, we caught someone trying to break into the palace..." He would pause. "There's a chance it could be... The killer... Do you want to..."

"Yes!" She interrupted. "Take me, quickly!".

Grabbing ahold of her staff, Ren would lead the Priestess to the atrium. Walking through the entryway, Ivy would notice two knights holding a man down. He had a bushy beard on his face and dirty brown hair. Looking scared, he'd quickly peer towards The Golden Edge.

"I... Ivy?" he stuttered.

Quickly she froze in place.

"Um, who are you?" She questioned him.

"Demetrius, Demetrius Chalant..." He introduced himself. "I'm your grandfather!"